How parents are navigating the impending childcare crisis

Parents are accustomed to school and day care closures due to the holiday periods, extreme weather events, wildfires or other natural disasters. But trying to figure out childcare in the face of a global pandemic is uncharted territory for most. As the number of COVID-19 cases rises, so is the number of schools closing in response.

As of this week, a lot of schools and day care centers have been closed or are scheduled to close for reasons related to coronavirus, including exposures and intense cleaning. Private institutions, preschools, nurseries are also affected. But one thing’s for sure: It’s not hard to imagine that we might soon follow in the footsteps of many other countries like South Korea, Iran, Japan, France, Pakistan and Italy, where school and day care facilities have been closed for a set period of time or indefinitely.

From the effect this will have on
our economy to the shortage of staff this could cause for hospitals,
which are scrambling to find a way to support providers who are also
parents, it’s clear the COVID-19 outbreak is already creating a
childcare crisis with wide-reaching effects. It also bears noting that
this new turn of events only compounds the existing childcare battles
parents face: A lot of families are spending unaffordable rates. And
even if you usually have access to quality care, many parents lack the
paid time off to stay home with their children for an indeterminate
length of time.

We asked Care.com Facebook followers
how they’re coping in the face of the outbreak. Here’s how they plan to
handle—or are already handling—childcare in times of Corona.

Switch off with a partner or family member

In
some families, one parent has better benefits than the other and can
rely on paid sick leave while the other heads to work. In others,
grandparents or other relatives can step in.

“I am an ER nurse,
will be working the front lines. Hopefully, my husband can stay home on
sick time to take care of our 6-year-old and 16-month-old. Otherwise we
have enough money in savings to last us a long time.” – Amanda Bledsoe

“[As
a caregiver] the plan is for me to work as if it is a school vacation
… My mom, who works in the school district, would take my eldest with
special needs just as she does when we have a scheduled break. We have
always had this plan.” – Krystal Laundry

“My husband would watch them while I work, or if he starts working, I’ll watch them.” – Carrie Small

“Thankful my family helps out. I work a third shift so definitely would be tired, but I will make it through.” – Ashley Harrison

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